Values and value priorities of Singaporean and Australian swimmers

Abstract

This is an examination of the impact of values on participation and performance in competitive swimming in Singapore and Australia. Values are the broad goals or criteria that direct individual behaviour previously initiated by motivational traits such as needs, interests, and attitudes. Subjects, who competed in the National Age-Group Championships of their respective countries, completed the values instrument developed by Schwartz and Bilsky (1987, 1990) and refined by Schwartz (1992, 1995). Similarity structure analysis (SSA) and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) were the tools of analysis. Significant main effects were reported for. Australian swimmers placed more emphasis on achievement, hedonism, stimulation, and self-direction than their Singaporean counterparts. Singaporean swimmers placed more emphasis on universalism, benevolence, tradition, and conformity than their Australian counterparts.